Curtain stretcher



Patented June 18, 1929.

UNETED STATES SYLVIO LEMAY, OF MANCHESTER, NEYV HAMPSHZEE.

CURTAIN STRETCHER.

Application filed December 20, 1927. Serial No. 241,396.

The present invention relates to improve ments in curtain stretchers and has for its principal object to provide a structure that can be readily and easily assembled or disassembled, the stretcher being adapted for stretching curtains of various sizes, and further so constructed as to permit the placing of the curtain to be stretched on the frame by only one person.

A further object is to provide a curtain stretcher of the above mentioned character which may be folded to occupy a minimum amount of space when stored away, the parts comprisin the stretcher being so arranged as to enable the same to be quickly and easily set up in position for use, and without the necessity of having to employ a multiplicity of bolts and nuts such as are commonly associated with curtain stretchers now on the market.

A. still further object is to provide-a curtain stretcher of the above mentioned char acter which is simple in construction, inexpensive, strong and durable, and further well adapted to the purpose for which it is designed.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will become apparent from the following description when taken in connection are with the accompanying drawings.

In the accompanying drawings forming part of this application and in which like numerals indicate like parts:

Figure l is a perspective view of the curtain stretcher embodying my invention, showing the same in use.

Figure 2 is a top plan view thereof.

Figure 3 is a perspective view of the stretcher showing the parts in their collapsed position, one of the cross bars being illustrated as well as the separate posts.

Figure 4 is a detail view showing the connection between one of the corner posts and the adjacent diagonal brace, and

Figure 5 is sectional view taken substantially on the line 55 of Figure 2.

In the drawings wherein for the purpose of illustration is shown the preferred embodiment of my invention, the numeral 1 designates generally the frame of my imextend outwardly from the curved outer face thereof. The other corner posts are not provided with these pins and the purpose there'- of will be presently described.

A. pair of substantially cross shaped brackets 7 are arranged cent-rally in the frame 1, and as is more clearly disclosed in Figures 1 and 2 of the drawings, each of these brackets has the radially disposed arms Sthereof of channel shaped formation. The outer ends of the sides of each channel shaped arm extends beyond the bottom portion as more clearly shown in Figure 5, and the purpose of this construction will also be presently apparent.

A channel shaped bracket 9 also forms an important part of the present invention, two of such brackets being provided for each corner post. The outer enlarged ends of the sides of each of these channel shaped brackets 9 extend beyond theouter end of the 8 bottom, as more clearly shown in Figure 4 to embrace the opposite sides of each corner post, and a pivot pin 10 extends through the outwardly extending side portions of each channeled bracket 9 and the respective cornor post.

Upper and lower series of diagonally disposed brace bars 11 are secured at their outer ends in the respective channel shaped brackets 9 by means of the pins 12, as shown very clearly in Figure 4. The inner ends of these brace bars extend between the sides of the respective channeled radial arms of the upper and lower cross shaped brackets 7 and a pivot pin 13 extends through the outwardly projecting ends of the sides of each channel arm 8 and the adjacent portion ofthe respective brace bar 11. The inner ends of the several brace bars are preferably beveled as also clearly disclosed in Figure 5.

When the brace bars 11 are disposed in a horizontal position, it will be observed that the bars will rest on the bottom of the channel shaped brackets 9 and the bottom of the respective channel shaped radially extending arms 8 of the cross shaped brackets 7 and in this manner, the corner posts will be supported rigidly in position to form a rectangular frame in top plan.

Adapted for disposition between the four corner posts are the upper and lower series of cross bars 14:. Each of these cross bars is formed with a V-shaped notch 15 at each end thereof whereby the cross bars will properly engage the inner opposed edges of the adjacent pairs of corner posts as shown in Figure 2, so that said cross bars will be disposed horizontally between the corner posts and further assist in holding the frame in its assembled position. Furthermore, these cross bars are capable of vertical sliding movement between the corner posts whereby to adjust the distance between the upper and lower series of cross bars in order to accommodate curtains of different width. Each of the cross bars is of substantially rectangular construction in cross section and a series of spaced nickel plated pins 16 similar to the pins 6 that project from the curved outer face of the corner post 2 project from the outer face of each crossbar. One of these cross bars is shown in Figure?) of the draw- The invention further comprehends the provision of a separate vertical bar or post 17 which is of a length equal to the length of each of the corner posts. A series of vertically spaced nickel plated pins 18 extend from the front face of this vertical bar or post 17 In use, the parts are assembled in the manner as shown in Figures 1 and 2 of the drawings. One edge of the curtain to be stretched is to be placed against the curved edge of the corner post 2 and is held thereon by means of the outwardly extending pins 6. The curtain is then stretched across the adjacent corner post 3, the pins 16 that project from the cross bars 14 that are disposed between the corner posts 2 and 3 holding the upper and lower edge portions of the curtain that extend across these particular cross bars. The other edge portion of the curtain is brought around the corner post 4 and the pins on the cross bars that are located between the corner posts 3 and a will penetrate the upper and lower edge portions of the adjacent portion of the curtain.

The separate vertical bar or post 17 is then clamped to the upper and lower cross bars that extend betweenthe corner posts 4 and by means of the clamps 19 that are of the conventional construction, and the free edge of the curtain A is then secured on this bar or post. by the pins 18 that project from the front face of this particular bar. The pins that project from the front face of each of the cross bars that extend between the corner posts 4 and 5 will also penetrate the up per and lower edge portions of the curtain.

In this manner, a curtain of any size can be stretched on the frame and due to the simplicity of its construction, the curtain stretcher will save considerable time and labor and will only necessitate the employment of one person in placing a curtain on the stretcher.

When not in use, the cross bars 14: are removed from between the respective corner posts and the separate bar member 17 detached by removing the clamps 19. The upper and lower cross shaped central brackets are pushed upwardly and this will result in the inner ends of the brace arms or bars 11 being disposed outwardly of the channeled arms in the manner shown in Figure 5 in the dotted lines, and also the channel shaped brackets 9 will swing upwardly on their pivots so that the braces will be disposed against the inner faces of the respective corner posts in the manner shown very clearly in Figure to provide a compact structure which can be'stored away without occupying any considerable amount of space.

lVhile I have shown the curtain attaching pins as being arranged in alinement with each other, it is of course to beunderstood that the same may be arranged to accommodate the scalloped edges of the curtain. A curtain stretcher of the above mcntioned character can furthermore be manufactured at a very low cost.

While I have shown the preferred embodimentof my invention, it is to be understood that various changes in the size, shape and arrangement of parts may be resorted to without departing from the spirit of the invention and the scope of the appended claim.

Having thus described the invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is In a curtain stretcher, a frame including corner posts, upper and lower cross shaped brackets arranged centrally of the frame, the arms of each bracket being of channeled formation, upper and lower channel shaped brackets secured to each corner post, and adapted for vertical swinging movement thereon, brace bars rigidly secured at their outer ends in the respective channeled brackets carried by thecorner posts, the inner ends of the brace bars being pivotally secured between the sides of the outer ends of the respective channel shaped arms of the upper and lower cross shaped central brackets, said brace bars being disposed horizontally to support the frame in an assembled position, the brace bar being disposed vertically against the respective corner post When the frame is in a collapsed condition, cross bars removably disposed in a horizontal manner between the corner posts, pins projecting from the outer face of each cross bar, curtain engaging pins projecting from the outer face of one of the corner posts,

and a separate post member secured in any predetermined adjust-ed position to one pair of upper and lower cross bars and curtain 1o engaging pins projecting from the outer face of this separate postmember. I

In testimony whereof I affix my signature.

SYLVIO LEMAY. 

